VP Chilima says Malawi govt committed to AIDs battle

Government has assured stakeholders in the country on its commitment in the fight against HIV through achieving the three zeroes that include zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.

The Vice President Saulos Chilima made the assurance Saturday at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) during the Protect the Goal fundraising Jazz Concert in Lilongwe.

“As the Government we are fully aware that this can only be achieved if there is political will. And this is the very same reason that President Peter Mutharika pledged his support to the campaign by signing the Presidential Protect the Goal Roving Football on August 28 this year” said Chilima.

He said UNAIDS has partnered with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and the National Aids Commission (NAC) to spread HIV prevention information, especially among the youths.

Chilima therefore paid tribute to Steve Bedi, the Goodwill Ambassador for the Protect the Goal for his aggressive efforts in the fight against the further spread of HIV infections.

“I am told that Steve’s passion is not only limited to playing the saxophone but extends to seeing a world where people are happy because they make good choices – the choice of knowing about HIV and Aids including one’s sero status. It is bad enough that people are dying of Aids but no one should die of ignorance,” he said.

For that reason the Veep called for the concerted efforts among all the stakeholders if the country is to achieve victory over the battle against HIV and Aids, saying that this is the national problem and must be tackled by everyone.

Chilima quoted what the Former United Nation President Bill Clinton said, ‘we live in a completely interdependent world, which simply means we cannot escape each other. How we respond to HIV/AIDS depends, in part, on whether we understand this interdependence. This is everybody’s problem.’

He said it is his hope that one day, a cure will be found and people will be able to say I used to have HIV; I survived it, and I thank all that cared.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Development Grace Chiumia expressed gratitude to the Vice President for finding time to grace this important function that will go a long way in addressing issues of HIV and Aids among the youth using football as a vehicle.

“I assure you the Vice President and the country as a whole that Ministry of Youth, Sports and Development will work with UNAIDS, NAC, FAM and the cooperate partners to ensure that protect the goal in Malawi is a success,” said Chiumia.